Race of Champions will move away from the winter schedule to take place in Australia (Sydney) in March of 2025, just around the F1 race in Melbourne.
Race Of Champions (ROC), TEG Sport and Venues NSW are thrilled to announce that the next edition of the iconic race will take place at Accor Stadium, Sydney March 7th and 8th 2025. This marks it the first time the event has ever been hosted on Australian soil. After a spectacular run on the snow and ice, 60 miles from the Arctic Circle in Sweden in 2022 and 2023, ROC will now travel over 15,000 kilometres across the globe to the sun-drenched landscape of Sydney for a brand-new high-octane challenge on the field at Accor Stadium.
With a history dating back to 1988, the Race Of Champions has been held at some of the world’s greatest venues – including Beijing’s Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium, Stade de France in Paris, London’s Olympic Stadium and Wembley Stadium, Mexico City’s Foro Sol plus a wide range of exotic locations all over the Globe from Bangkok, Barbados, Miami, Riyadh, Mexico City and the Arctic Circle in Sweden.
The ROC racing format is a unique, winner-takes-all contest that gives drivers from various disciplines of motorsport the opportunity to test their talents against competitors they would never typically encounter. ROC is renowned for gathering some of the best drivers in the World, including superstars from Formula 1, Le Mans, INDYCAR, NASCAR, World Rally and Rally-X; legends like Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, Sébastien Loeb, David Coulthard, Marcus Grönholm, and Jenson Button.
This also includes other international stars like NASCAR champions Jimmie Johnson, Kurt and Kyle Busch, and Jeff Gordon; Ryan Hunter-Reay and Josef Newgarden of INDYCAR; Formula E Champion Lucas Di Grassi; Extreme sports star Travis Pastrana; and Indy 500 champs Juan-Pablo Montoya and Helio Castroneves. The Race Of Champions will run over two nights with the purpose-built track taking centre stage at Accor Stadium, seeing the ROC Nations Cup take place on Friday March 7th, with drivers paired up in teams based on nationality to bid for the title of ‘World’s Fastest Nation’.
Saturday night March 8th will see the individual Race Of Champions, when all teamwork goes out of the window and it will be a flat-out battle for individual glory and the ‘Champion of Champions’ Title. The event will not only celebrate the global motorsport elite but also give an opportunity to celebrate the rich motorsport history of Australia with top Australian drivers competing head-to-head with the world’s best.
Sydney, known for its iconic landmarks and vibrant sports culture, will be an exhilarating stage for the Race Of Champions. Quotes attributed to Race Of Champions President and Co-Founder: Fredrik Johnsson: “We are incredibly excited to bring the Race Of Champions to Australia for the first time ever. ROC has always been about pushing drivers to their limits in unique conditions. Australia has a rich motorsport heritage, and we’re looking forward to celebrating that by pitting some of the best Australian drivers against some of the world’s most legendary racing stars in a spectacular showdown in the middle of Accor Stadium.”
7-time Supercars Champion Jamie Whincup, who is aiming to win the iconic Bathurst 1000 for the 5th time this weekend, said: “I had a great time competing at the Race Of Champions World Finals in Bangkok and Barbados. I’m thrilled to be part of the ROC driver line-up again in 2025, especially with the event being hosted in Sydney. Competing alongside some of the best drivers in the world from so many different racing series is always an incredible challenge and representing Australian motorsport on home soil now that ROC comes to Australia for the first time makes it even more special. I can’t wait to get out there and give it everything for the Aussie fans.”
5-time MotoGP World Champion Mick Doohan, who has competed in 4 previous ROC events, said: “It’s great news that the Race Of Champions is finally coming here to Australia for the first time. I’ve truly enjoyed my participations in the event in the past. ROC’s concept with drivers from different forms of motorsport competing head-to-head inside a stadium with the spectators so close to the action creates a fantastic atmosphere both for the drivers and fans.”
Geoff Jones, Group CEO of TEG said: “We are thrilled to bring the Race Of Champions to Sydney for the very first time. With its rich global history and tradition of showcasing the world’s best drivers, this event is truly one-of-a-kind. We can’t wait to see how they perform in front of passionate motorsport fans on the field at Accor Stadium – this with be a race to remember.”
NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said: “The Race Of Champions is an incredibly exciting and new event for Sydney. This is an event like no other with the world’s best drivers to go head-to-head on Australian soil for the first time – it will be a spectacle not to be missed.”
In what will be the ultimate motorsport experience in Sydney in 2025, fans can expect a festival-like atmosphere surrounding Race Of Champions, with entertainment, activities, and a chance to witness some of the world’s best drivers up close in one of the most stunning cities in the world.
Video launch: https://x.com/RaceOfChampions/status/1843789624348639570
[Note: The story is as per press release]